Self contained solder iron kit

ABSTRACT

A self-contained solder iron kit which includes an electrically operated soldering iron with a cord storage area provided on the medial portion of the elongated handle, and a storage area provided within the end of the handle remote from the soldering point. The storage area provides for and includes all the necessary soldering materials such as chemicals, flux, fluids, and assorted soldering rods, thereby conveniently embodying everything into one compact kit. Provision is made for double hermetically sealing off the chemicals to avoid potential leakage of corrosion or fumes.

United States Patent Simsack [54] SELF CONTAINED SOLDER IRON KIT [72]Inventor: Anton Simsack, 231 East High Street, Elizabethtown, Pa. 17022[22] Filed: Nov. 18, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 90,613

[52] US. Cl. ..219/229, 16/1105, 30/125,

145/62, 219/230, 219/236, 219/533, 228/52 [51] Int. Cl. ..B23k 3/02,1-105b 3/02 [58] Field of Search ..219/221242, 533,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,826,933 10/1931 Hazlett etal. ..219/240 2,297,303 9/1942 Humfeld ..219/232 X 541,408 6/1895Willson ..228/57 2,372,859 4/1945 Sparks ..219/231 UX 2,592,426 4/1952Jeffrey ..219/236 UX 3,267,254 8/1966 Weller et a1. ..219/240 X 10,5002/1854 Chamberlain ..145/62 518,106 4/1894 Johnson ..145/62 [451 Nov.21, 1972 670,799 3/1901 Miller ..16/1 10.5 X 3,426,813 2/1969 Robertson..16/1 10.5 X 1,928,576 9/1933 Stedley ..228/51 X 2,692,935 10/1954Pearce et a1. ..219/232 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 907,359 6/1945France ..145/62 678,421 12/1964v Italy, ..219/241 Primary Examiner-A.Bartis Attorney-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [5 7] ABSTRACT A self-containedsolder iron kit which includes an electrically operated soldering ironwith a cord storage area provided on the medial portion of the elongatedhandle, and a storage area provided within the end of the handle remotefrom the soldering point. The storage area provides for and includes allthe necessary soldering materials such as chemicals, flux, fluids, andassorted soldering rods, thereby conveniently embodying everything intoone compact kit. Provision is made for double hermetically sealing offthe chemicals to avoid potential leakage of corrosion or fumes.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures D.C.-A.C. CONVERTER minimum I912 3.703.624

SHEET 1 0F 2 I JNVEWTOE ANTON SIMSACK B? ajflmwmzw M ATTORNEYS SHEET 2BF 2 JNVENiOR ANTON SIM5ACK A TTOEA/IE x7 PATENTED Nov 2 1 m2 SELFCONTAINED SOLDER IRON KIT The present invention relates generally to animplement for applying soldering metal or metallic compounds, and moreparticularly relates to a simplified, efficient and compact solderingiron kit embodying all the necessary soldering materials generallywithin the handle portion of the soldering iron which is preferably ofthe electrically heated type.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a novel soldering ironkit which embodies essentially all of the electrical elements (exceptfor the power source), and all of the soldering elements or materials,such as the necessary chemicals, flux, fluids and assorted solderingrods, into one conveniently compact unit.

A further object is to provide a soldering kit of the aforesaidcharacter which provides for hermetically doubly sealing thecompartments housing the chemical elements to avoid leakage anddischarge of potential oxidized fumes and/or corrosion, thereby makingit more suitable for home hobbyists as well as professional craftsmen.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved by providing anelongated handle'suitably attached to a forwardly disposed heatingelement and soldering point or tip. The handle is fabricated of heat andelectrical insulating material and is reduced in cross-sectionthroughout its medial portion to receive thereabout the electrical cordused to operatively connect the heating elements in the soldering tipwith a source of electrical power, when the cord or iron are not in use.The reduced medial area not only provides for cord storage, but alsoaids in heat dissipation to some extent.The end of the handle,preferably beyond the medially reduced portion, is provided with aremovable, generally hollow, end cap attachable by complemental closefitting screw threads on the respective handle portions, to help betterseal the storage compartment area. The electrical power cord is disposedgenerally throughout the axial center of the handle and cap, and aplurality of storage pockets are provided in the main handle portionradially around the centrally disposed electrical cord. These pocketsare used to store smaller cylindrical compartments of the variouschemicals and flux compositions, as well as the various solderingmetallic wires or rods. The iron can be used by plugging it into anyconventional electrical outlet, or by attachment to a car battery inassociation with a suitable transformer device.

The construction, objects and advantages may be better understood whenconsidered in conjunction with the following more detailed descriptiontogether with the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherein likereference characters designate like parts through the various figures,and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of a preferred form of thesoldering kit, showing the storage compartment cap in the removedcondition, and the cord in the unwound condition;

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view, but showing the cap in its appliedcondition and showing the cord wound upon the storage handle; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view better showing exemplaryinterior constructional details of the kit and also showing a partiallyschematic modified electrical connection with a battery source.

The novel kit comprises basically an elongated combined storage body andhandle generally denoted A, which body is suitably connected via aheating element means B to'soldering tip means C.

The body A is formed of any suitable dielectric material, such asplastic or hard rubber, having heat and electrical insulatingcharacteristics, and includes forward and rearward end portions and 12,respectively, preferably integrally interconnected by the mediallyreduced cross-section body length 14 serving dually as the cord storageportion and at least part of the main handle portion.

A conventional insulated two or three wire electrical heating cord 16runs through a central aperture 18 in the body and has the leads of oneend thereof con nected with the heating element means B, and the otherends connected with a suitable electrical plug 20 for connection withany suitable power source, such as any conventional 1 10V A.C. C.electrical outlet (not shown) or via a suitable DC-AC converter device22 to a conventional storage battery, such as a 12V automobile battery24, schematically shown in FIG. 3.

The rearward body end portion 12 is provided with storage meansincluding a plurality of recessed tubular storage compartments 26disposed radially around the exit of the cord 16, and extending in anaxial direction generally parallel to the central axis of the body. Thecompartments 26 may extend varying depths into the body according to theneed or accommodation length of the materials to be stored therein.Soldering materials, including solderingwire or rods 28, suitable foreffecting various kinds of soldering, including stainless steelsoldering, together with one or more sealable chambers 30 for holdingflux or other chemical compositions, are storable within the recessedcompartments 26. The sealable chambers 30 have tightly fittingscrew-threaded caps 32 which together act as the first of the doublesealing provision. The storage compartments are secondarily sealed by aremovable threaded body end cap 34 which is centrally apertured toreceive the cord 16, and is suitable recessed at 36 to form asubstantial portion of the storage area. Cap 34 is provided with threads38 complemental to the threads 38' on the body end portion 12, andpreferably has its outer diameter co-extensive with that of said endportion 12. The threaded caps 32 and 34 may be provided withsupplemental gasket sealing means, if necessary or desired to providefor a more complete hermetical sealing thereof.

The forward end 10 of body A has an outside diameter preferablycoextensive with that of the rearward portion 12. The forward end isrecessed axially at 40 to at least partially house a conventionalelectrical heating element assembly 42 which projects a substantialdistance from end 10 and is protectively enclosed by a suitably louvredor ventilated housing sleeve member 44. Sleeve member 44 is provided atone end with a transverse radial flange 46 suitably apertured to receivefastening means 48 for attaching the sleeve to the forward body end 10.The other and forwardmost end of the sleeve 44 is fastened by anysuitable means, such as screws 50, to the soldering tips means C, whichlatter means includes a soldering-tip-supporting body 52 pro vided withan end recess 54 and means for removably and interchangeably mountingany one of a variety of soldering tips 56. While the kit device can bemade in various sizes, one ideally compact unit has been-made to fitwithin relatively small or tool boxes only 8 inches in length.

It is apparent that the novelly improved soldering iron kit may bestocked with soldering elements and chemicals to facilitate solderingapplications for various metals including stainless steel, iron, brass,copper and others. Accordingly, since the various storage compartmentsare adapted to house the variety of chemicals and flux and rodsnecessary to achieve this, it is understandable that the double sealingof the compartments is essential to avoid potential leakage of thechemicals and/or corrosive fumes which may accompany the storage ofsame.

The subject of this invention readily lends itself to use by home hobbyenthusiasts, as well as professional craftsmen, in a variety of usesincluding television, radio, transistors, auto, boat and aircraft repairshops, electronic schools, watch and jewelry repair on precious andsemi-precious metals, toys and musical instruments, among others.

It is apparent that a novel soldering kit has been evolved whichachieves the objects and advantages set forth in the preamble andelsewhere throughout this specification, including captively maintainingthe body end cap 34 in association with the kit by the provision of thecord passing snugly through an aperture in the cap to maintain thedesired sealing, and that various changes and alterations may be made inthe specific constructional details without departing from the invcntivescope as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A completely self-contained, portable soldering iron kit comprising,in combination:

a. an elongated body having forward and rearward end portions ofsubstantially the same diameter separated by a reduced diametergenerally cylindrical medial body portion; said body defining a combinedtool handle and storage compartment;

b. an electric heating element and soldering tip means connected to andprojecting from the forward body end;

c. selectively openable and closeable storage cavity means provided inthe rearward body portion, said storage cavity meansincluding aplurality of rearwardly open, axially extending recesses formed in theend of said rearward end portion and defining a plurality of tubularstorage compartments, said storage cavity means further including:

1. a removable cup-shaped end cap having thread means for removableattachment to complementary thread means on the end of said rearwardbody portion such that the recessed'portion of the cut-shaped capdefines with the end of the body an enlarged storage area into which thetubular compartments open when the cap is in place on the body;

2. at least one of said tubular storage compartments having disposedtherein a container of liquid chemical substance needed to perform asoldering operation, others of said compartments adapted to holdmetallic solder;

d. said body being provided with an axial passageway extending from oneend of the body to the other, a

length of insulated electrical cord having one end connected with theheating element means, said cord extending rearwardly through saidpassageway into said enlarged storage area and passing freely through anaperture in the end cap; a connector means on the other end forconnection with a source of electrical power, whereby said cap isremovably but captively retained in association with the body; and

e. wherein the length of the cord extending from the rear of said bodyis of such length as to be substantially accommodated as a single layerwhen wound on the reduced diameter medial portion for storage when thetool is not in use.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the tool is energizedfrom an A.C. power source.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the tool is energizedfrom a DC. power source by means of an DC-AC convertor connectedtherewith.

1. A completely self-contained, portable soldering iron kit comprising,in combination: a. an elongated body having forward and rearward endportions of substantially the same diameter separated by a reduceddiameter generally cylindrical medial body portion; said body defining acombined tool handle and storage compartment; b. an electric heatingelement and soldering tip means connected to and projecting from theforward body end; c. selectively openable and closeable storage cavitymeans provided in the rearward body portion, said storage cavity meansincluding a plurality of rearwardly open, axially extending recessesformed in the end of said rearward end portion and defining a pluralityof tubular storage compartments, said storage cavity means furtherincluding:
 1. a removable cup-shaped end cap having thread means forremovable attachment to complementary thread means on the end of saidrearward body portion such that the recessed portion of the cut-shapedcap defines with the end of the body an enlarged storage area into whichthe tubular compartments open when the cap is in place on the body; 2.at least one of said tubular storage compartments having disposedtherein a container of liquid chemical substance needed to perform asoldering operation, others of said compartments adapted to holdmetallic solder; d. said body being provided with an axial passagewayextending from one end of the body to the other, a length of insulatedelectrical cord having one end connected with the heating element means,said cord extending rearwardly through said passageway into saidenlarged storage area and passing freely through an aperture in the endcap; a connector means on the other end for connection with a source ofelectrical power, whereby said cap is removably but captively retainedin association with the body; and e. wherein the length of the cordextending from the rear of said body is of such length as to besubstantially accommodated as a single layer when wound on the reduceddiameter medial portiOn for storage when the tool is not in use.
 1. aremovable cup-shaped end cap having thread means for removableattachment to complementary thread means on the end of said rearwardbody portion such that the recessed portion of the cut-shaped capdefines with the end of the body an enlarged storage area into which thetubular compartments open when the cap is in place on the body;
 2. atleast one of said tubular storage compartments having disposed therein acontainer of liquid chemical substance needed to perform a solderingoperation, others of said compartments adapted to hold metallic solder;d. said body being provided with an axial passageway extending from oneend of the body to the other, a length of insulated electrical cordhaving one end connected with the heating element means, said cordextending rearwardly through said passageway into said enlarged storagearea and passing freely through an aperture in the end cap; a connectormeans on the other end for connection with a source of electrical power,whereby said cap is removably but captively retained in association withthe body; and e. wherein the length of the cord extending from the rearof said body is of such length as to be substantially accommodated as asingle layer when wound on the reduced diameter medial portiOn forstorage when the tool is not in use.
 2. The combination as defined inclaim 1 wherein the tool is energized from an A.C. power source.